Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Ranked #1 most prestigious law firm by Vault for ten consecutive years, Cravath is one of the oldest and most renowned firms in the United States. Headquartered in New York with offices in London and Washington, D.C., Cravath has approximately 500 attorneys — deliberately smaller than its peers, reflecting a philosophy of selectivity over scale.

Cravath is synonymous with market-defining M&A and high-stakes litigation. The firm routinely advises on the largest and most complex corporate transactions in the world and has built one of the most respected trial practices in the country. Its capital markets and tax groups are equally regarded at the top of the market.

Cravath pioneered the "Cravath System" — the associate development model that most modern law firms are based on. Summer associates rotate through multiple practice areas before specializing, giving broad exposure to the firm's work. The program is known for its rigorous training, collaborative culture, and a genuine investment in associate development. Cravath set the market-rate salary scale that the rest of BigLaw follows.